Stratford sex offender sentenced to 35 days in jail for attending a public park in St. Marys

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A registered sex offender found guilty of being in a St. Marys park where children younger than 16 could gather has been sentenced to 35 days in jail.

John Lacroix from Stratford stood silently as Judge Kathryn McKerlie handed down his sentence Wednesday in Stratford court. Last week, Crown attorney Elizabeth Wilson requested a 60-day jail term while defence lawyer Erik Van Drunen argued for a fine of between $2,000 and $3,000 and 12 months’ probation.

Part of Van Drunen’s push for no jail time included the fact his client was “heavily stigmatized” in the community after his arrest. He said flyers were posted in Lacroix‘s neighbourhood with his address, his vehicle was vandalized, and there were “swift and vicious” comments about him on social media platforms following articles about the case in the Stratford Beacon Herald and London Free Press.

McKerlie noted Wednesday throughout the trial Lacroix portrayed himself as a victim who suffered greatly.

“Mr. Lacroix, you are not the victim, you are the offender,” she said.

The judge added he was being sentenced in the Ontario Court of Justice and “not in the court of public opinion.”

Lacroix, 48, was arrested at the Stonetown Heritage Festival in St. Marys on July 8 and charged with violating Section 161 of the Criminal Code, specifically Subsection A, which bans him from attending a public park or public swimming area where children younger than 16 are present or can reasonably be expected to be present.

During the Oct. 3 trial, Van Drunen argued Milt Dunnell Field in St. Marys should not be considered a public park. McKerlie rejected the notion and found Lacroix guilty on Oct. 24.

“You took a chance and were caught,” she reiterated Wednesday, calling Lacroix’s decision to park his motorhome in the area that day a calculated risk.

Van Drunen also previously argued custody was not necessary as the incident was “a technical breach” of the order. On Wednesday McKerlie disagreed, terming it a blatant breach.

“Contravention comes at a price,” she said, later adding “a custody sentence is required.”

The judge said the 60-day jail term suggested by the Crown was reasonable, but took into account some mitigating factors brought forward by Van Drunen. Of the 35-day sentence, Lacroix will serve 30. He received the equivalent of five days’ credit after spending three days in jail following his July arrest.

He did not receive probation. The Section 161 order, which is still in effect, lasts until 2021.

Lacroix pleaded guilty in 2011 to several charges, including sexual interference and exposing himself. He was sentenced to 23 months in custody and ordered to register as a sexual offender.